Judge: Stanton's 1st Yanks HR 'thing of beauty'
Right fielder goes 2-for-2 as left fielder homers in Subway Series win
TAMPA, Fla. -- During their brief time as teammates, Aaron Judge has found occasion to marvel at Giancarlo Stanton's meticulous routines in the batting cage and the weight room, noting that the slugger seems to be a "quiet guy" who has quickly fit into the Yankees' clubhouse mix.
There was nothing silent about Stanton's performance on Saturday. After leading the Majors with 59 home runs last season, the reigning National League Most Valuable Player Award winner is on the board with his new employer, mashing a two-run shot in the Yankees' 10-3 Grapefruit League victory over the Mets.
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"I needed earplugs at first base. That was loud," Judge said. "He sat right on that changeup, he didn't try to pull it, didn't try to do too much. Just took a swing and drove it out to right. It's a thing of beauty. I'm excited for Spring Training and the upcoming year."
Stanton's blast came in the fifth inning off Mets starter Matt Harvey, sending a 1-2 pitch just to the right of the batter's eye in center field. The homer came on a day when Judge singled, doubled and walked in three trips to the plate, offering an enticing look at the potential of this duo.
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"I already know what we can do," Stanton said. "It's good to put it out there and keep it rolling. It's good to start to get a little dynamic of being in the same lineup."
Stanton and Judge were the leading power threats in the Majors last season, with Judge securing AL Rookie of the Year Award honors and AL MVP runner-up status thanks in large part to a 52-homer campaign.
Asked if he could envision both reaching 60 this year, Stanton didn't rule the suggestion out, but he made it clear that individual objectives shouldn't be the measuring stick for this team.
"All you can go off of is our stats," Stanton said. "You see what you think we can do, and then you put us together. Who knows after that? … It's definitely possible. That's not the goal. Don't ask me numbers and stuff like that. It's not the goal."
The Yanks' lineup on Saturday featured Judge and Stanton hitting back to back as the Nos. 2 and 3 hitters, and that is an alignment manager Aaron Boone is considering for use on a regular basis. Stanton's crack off Harvey, as well as the Yanks' first inning in which Brett Gardner and Judge both scored runs, are marks in that favor.
"There's no better feeling than squaring one up, right?" Boone said. "I think he enjoys being in there with Gardy and Judge. I think their competitive juices were going a little bit and they had some good banter going."
There is appeal in having an opponent face both hitters in the first inning, and Boone said that he may stack Judge, Stanton and Gary Sanchez against left-handed pitchers this season. Against a right-hander, Boone is likely to insert a left-handed bat to split up Judge and Stanton, perhaps Greg Bird or Didi Gregorius.
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"You don't know which one is going to be the best," Stanton said. "It's good to have a lefty in between us also. It's even harder on pitchers. Coaches, opposing manager sequence, bringing in guys. We'll find a way that works best."
No matter where they hit when the bell rings for the regular season, Judge said that he is enjoying the early installments of the Stanton show.
"It's fun to watch," Judge said. "He's been around the league for a while, and he just has his routine. He sticks to it no matter what the game is, what the situation is. It's pretty cool. … He's a good guy. He fits right in with the team we have. He's a Yankee, for sure."